Lyra ConstellationOf Note(music that is)

The Lyra constellation, one of the smaller
constellations, with an area covering only 286 square degrees(52nd
of the 88) contains one of the night's brightest stars. The alpha
star Vega is the fifth brightest in the sky and the second brightest
star in the northern hemisphere.

Vega along with the stars Alpha
Cygni(Deneb) and Alpha Aquilae(Altair) form the “Summer Triangle”.
A bright asterism in the northern sky.

Vega has an apparent magnitude of 0.03
and is about 25 light-years away from us.

Sheliak is an eclipsing binary star
system with the apparent magnitude of 3.45. The stars orbit to close
to be separated in telescopes. The variable light is caused by the
eclipse rather than the stars themselves. Stars of this type are
known as Beta-Lyrae type stars.

Gamma Lyrae is a multiple star system
with an apparent magnitude of 3.24

Epsilon Lyrae is a quadruple star
system as both of the larger components have a companion.

DEEP SKY

Only 2 Messier Objects can be found in
the Lyra constellation, M56 and M57.

M56 is a globular cluster between Beta
Cygni and Gamma Lyrae. It appears as a “fuzzy” star in large
binoculars but can be resolved in an 8in(200mm) or larger telescope.

M57 is known as “The Ring Nebula”.
One of the better known planetary nebula, it appears in telescopes as
an elliptical ring with a green tint.

MYTHOLOGY

Lyra is said to represent the lyre or
harp of the musician Orpheus.

According to legend the music of
Orpheus was the most beautiful in the world. It had the ability to
charm anyone and anything even rocks and trees.

Chiron the centaur told Jason that he
would need Orpheus on his quest so Orpheus went along on the Argo
with the Argonauts.

His music was used to charm the Sirens
and keep the Argo's sailors from crashing into the Siren's islands.

Orpheus was eventually killed by
creatures that couldn't hear his wonderful music. These beings then
threw the lyre into the river.

Zeus sent Aquila to retrieve the lyre
and placed it in the sky as the Lyra constellation.